Printing machine



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PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1956 18 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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ATTORNEY PRINTING MAC William H. Uhl, Pentield, and Harry G. Jones, Canaridaigua, N.Y., assignors to Commercial Controls Corporation, Rochester, N.Y.

Application May 10, 1956, Serial No. 584,136

57 Claims. (Cl. 101-90) This invention relates to a certain type of printing machine, more particularly to a machine capable of automatically printing a plurality aligned indicia such as letters and numbers on a card or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a printing machine which is sturdy, practical and simple in design. Another object is to provide a machine of the above character wherein the essential parts for accomplishing the desired results are reduced to an absolute minimum. Another object is to provide a machine of the above character which will automatically print a plurality of indicia on a long card. Another object is to provide a machine of the above character in which a plurality of printing rolls are used for the printing operation, together with means for conveniently setting the printing rolls as desired. Another object is to provide a machine of the above character which is easy to operate and consumes a minimum of space. Another object is to provide a machine of the above character which will print a large number of indicia on one card and yet utilize a small number of printing parts to accomplish this result. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims to follow.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a front perspective view of the machine ready for operation.

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but taken from a different angle and at the end of a printing operation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the entire machine with certain parts being broken away.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing the general relationship of the parts as the machine is set for a printing operation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the top printing ribbon supporting frame.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken crosswise of the machine to show the setting and indicating wheels and associated mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of the printing and setting mechanism in the home position and taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 7.

2,888,873; Patented June 2,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective view of the starting and locking levers and associated mechanism including several inter-locks.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 13-13 of Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 10.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 15-15 of Figure 10.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 16-16 of Figure 10.

Figure 17 is an end elevation of the machine with the cover removed, i.e. looking into the end of the machine from the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical section taken alongthe lines 18-18 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the lines 19-19 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the lines 20-20 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a vertical section taken along the lines 21-21 of Figure 7.

Figure 22 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 22-22 of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 24-24 of Figure 22.

Figure 25 is an exploded perspective, partially schematic view of the printing wheels and associated mechanism for the vertical reciprocation thereof.

Figure 26 is a fragmentary vertical schematic view of the mechanism for locking the printing wheels during a printing operation.

Figure 27 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 26 showing the parts in locked position.

Figure 28 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the relationship of printing wheels and platen rollers when the printing wheels are in their lower position.

Figure 29 is a view similar to Figure 28 with the printing wheels in the upper or printing position.

Figure 30 is a diagrammatic view showing the drive for the printing carriage as the parts are related at the start of a printing operation.

Figure 31 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 30 showing these parts at the end of a printing cycle.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As seen in Figure 1 the machine comprises an outer casing generally indicated at 10 which supports a printing ribbon 12 (Figure 3) wound on a pair of rollers 14 and 16 (Figure 4) which may be operated by knobs 18 and 20 to manually feed fresh printing ribbon to the printing sur face as required. This printing ribbon lies between a card 22 (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 28) on which various numerals, letters and other indicia are to be printed by the printing mechanism to be described.

Still referring to Figure 1 there is a setting mechanism generally indicated at 24 for setting the printing wheels to the desired printing position. The printing wheels which will be described later are mounted in a carriage generally indicated at 26, and after the card is in place on top of the ribbon, proper setting has been effected and the motor started, this printing carriage moves from the right of the machine as shown in Figure 1, to the left of the machine as shown in Figure 2. During its travel throughout the length of the machine the printing mechanism to be described operates within the carriage 26 to print the desired indicia on the card 22, and when the carriage reaches the position shown in Figure 2 at the left of the machine it automatically comes to rest. The card may then be removed and the travel of the carriage 26 is reversed so that it returns to assume the position shown in Figure 1 where it is ready for another printing operation for a resetting of its printing wheels as desired.

As can be seen in Figure 4 casing includes two baseboards 28 and 30 located at opposite ends of the machine and connected to side plates 32 and 34 (Figures 6 and 17) which have inwardly extending bottom flanges 32a and 34a to which legs 36 (Figures 1, 2, and 4) are suitably connected. As will be understood from Figures 4, 7 and 21, carriage 26 comprises sides 38 and 40 connected by a top plate 42 and a bottom plate 44. This carriage is mounted to move longitudinally with respect to the machine on tracks 46 and 48 (Figures 7, 9, 17 and 21) suitably bolted to the machine side plates 32 and 34 (Figure 17). More particularly as seen in Figures 2', 21, and 22, piates 50 and 52 are connected to the sides 38 and 40 of carriage 26 by bolts 54 (Figures 7, 9, 22 and 23) and plates 50 and 52' carry rollers 56 on the opposite sides of tracks 46 and 48 to slidably support carriage 26 thereon.

Still referring to Figures 7 and 21, three platen rollers 58 are rotatably supported on arms 60 which are pivotally mounted between walls 38 and 40 of carriage 26 on a shaft 62 disposed therebetween. Thus, the platen rollers 58 may be pivoted toward or away from the. banks 64 and 66 of printing wheels which each comprise a series of individual wheels 6411 and 66a, respectively, rotatably mounted on a shaft 68 (Figure 21). Platen rollers 58 are constantly urged away from the printing wheels 64a and 66a by springs 70 connected thereto and connected to a shaft '72-mounted in carriage 26 thereabove. Arms 60 and the platen rollers 58 rotatably mounted thereon may be urged toward, the printing wheels 64a and 66a by cam arms 74 connected to a shaft 76 rotatably mounted in sides 38 and 40.

Referring now to Figures 7', 21, 22 and 25, printing wheels 64a and 660 are rotatably mounted on shaft 68 which is rotatably mounted in and spans the space between a pair of supporting levers 78 and 80 (Figure 21). These supporting evers 78- and 80 are interconnected by a rod 82 as can be seen in Figures 21 and 25; thus these levers move together as a unit to support banks 64 and 66 of printing wheels 64a and 66a. A pair of levers 84 and 86 are fixed to rod- 82' (Figures 7', 21, 22, 25 and 26) and these arms are pivotally supported at the lower ends of supporting levers 78 and 80. As seen in Figures 7, 21

and 25, supporting levers 78 and 80 are supported in cut-away portions 38a and 40a of sides 38' and 40 (Figures 7 and 9) for vertical reciprocation as the carriage 26' moves from the Figure 1 position to the Figure 2 position during printing. Thus, machine sides 32 and 34 have upper inwardly extending flanges 32b and 34b and a pair of rack members 88 and 90 are supported thereon bybracket pieces 92 and 94-. Rack members 88 and 90 have teeth 88a and 90a meshing with driving pinions 96 and 98 as seen in Figures 21 and 22. These pinions 96. and'98 drive other pinions mounted on the opposite sides of the machine to support and reciprocate the supporting levers 78 and 80 and hence the printing wheels 64:: and 66a during a printing operation. Inasmuch as the structure on both sides of the machine is identical, that on the left as viewed in Figure 21 will be described. Referring to Figure 22, pinion 96' meshes with a pinion 100 which is-rotatably mounted on side 38 and plate 50 of carriage- 26; pinion 100 is fixed to a driving pinion 102: (see also Figure 23). Driving pinion 102 meshes with a pair of pinions 104 and 106 which as can be seen in Figures, 23 and. 24. are rotatably mounted on plate 50 of; carriage 26. As will be understood from Figure 25 pinions 104 and 106 are; eccentrically connected to sup porting lever 78 by eccentric stud shafts 104a and 106a.

Accordingly, when the carriage 26 moves along the machine frame during a printing operation as described, rack 88 rotates pinions 96, 100 and 102, while pinion 102 meshes with and therefore rotates pinions 104 and 106. Rotation of pinions 104 and 106 reciprocates supporting lever 78 within a cut-away portion 38a of side 38 (Figures 7 and 9). Inasmuch as supporting lever 73 and its counterpart, supporting lever 80, support shaft 68 and printing wheels 64a and 66a, vertical reciprocation is imparted to the printing wheels to eiiect a printing operation.

Turning now to Figure 21 printing wheels 64a and 66a are individually rotatable on shaft 63 being thus supported between collars 68a, 68b, 63c and 68d. Accordingly, these printing wheels are individually adjustable and they carry around their periphery a. plurality of indicia such as numbers, letters, preferably in the form of rows of printing teeth 107 and it)? as seen in Figures '7 and 9. Mechanism is provided for setting printing wheels in corresponding positions in each bank simultaneously thereby to determine the lines of printing teeth 107 and 109 which will be set to face platen rollers 58 (Figure 7) for printing.

This setting mechanism includes a setting knob 10S and a setting bar 110 (Figure 1) extending from an opening 112 in the top of the casing. Beneath this opening are a series of indicator wheels generally indicated at 114 (Figures 4, 6 and 9) which are identical with printing wheels 64a and 66a and are arranged in corresponding positions as best seen in Figure 9 to be rotated with the printing wheels during setting. Inasmuch as these indicator wheels 114 are immediately beneath window 113 the operator may see exactly what he is doing to the printing wheels by looking into the opening where the same setting will appear on the indicator wheels. As seen in Figures 4, 6, 7 and 9 standards 116 and 118 are secured to baseboard 28' and a shaft 1121 (Figures 6 and 7) extends therebetween to support indicator wheels 114. As previously noted indicator wheels 1114 are in exact alignment with printing wheels 64a and 66a but they are rotatably mounted on the base of the machine and hence remain in fixed position at the right as viewed in Figure 4 during all phases of machine operation. On the other hand, the banks of printing wheels 64 and 66 are reciprocably supported in the carriage 26 to move from one end of the machine to the other as previously described during a printing operation. When carriage 26 is in its home position as shown in Figure l, printing wheels 64a and 66a must be drivingly connected to indicator wheels 114 to rotate therewith. For this and other purposes to be described, there are provided a plurality of transfer pinions generally indicated at 122 (Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9), meshing with printing wheels 64a and 66a and indicator wheels 114.

These transfer pinions 122 are mounted on a shaft 124 which is supported in side plates 142 and 144- (Figure 6) and they are individually rotatable about shaft 124. As shown in Figure 7 they mesh with and are in alignment with printing wheels 64a and indicator Wheels 114 (Figure 9). Accordingly, when transfer pinions 122 are rotated they rotate a printing wheel 64a and a corresponding indicator wheel simultaneously. Thus by manipulation of bar 110 and knob 108 the operator. may achieve any setting desired; Further, as will be presently described; the corresponding wheel in each of banks 64 and 66 is simultaneously set so that wheels 114 give information concerning the setting in each bank. Referring to Figures 6 and 7' a plurality of detents generally indicated at 126 are pivotally supported on shaftsv 128 and 130 immediately beneath transfer pinions 122 and are urged thereagainst by an interconnecting spring 132. Thus transfer pinions 122, the printing wheels and indicator Wheels, drivingly interconnected, as described, are held against idle rotation and the operator is given a sense of feel during setting. Also, because of the usual 

